With the holiday season approaching, many people start recounting the many traditions that they had throughout their lives. Some traditions fade away, some begin anew, but no matter how traditional or quirky your tradition is, you can always count on looking back at it with fondness.
since moving to the Malone area, one of my newest traditions is an annual drive to gaze at Christmas lighting displays. Having grown up in the country, where our house sat a mile back from the road and neighbors were few and far between, I never had the opportunity to hop in the car for a quick jaunt around town to see amazing holiday displays.
Our tradition now involves popping a Christmas CD into the car radio, heading to the convenience store for a hot cocoa, and making a night of driving around to look at the decorations that my neighbors, both near and far, put so much work into and create living displays of art.
Our trek brings us past many private residences with glorious displays that you may just have to see for yourself. But on your own journey through tradition, make sure you check out these 3 places of beautiful lights.
Arsenal Green Park
We start by heading east out of Malone. Before you even leave the village, you are hit with an amazing display at Arsenal Green. The park, right alongside the Malone Chamber of Commerce building, is home to a grand white gazebo and a large pine tree both strung with beautiful white and red lights.
At the Annual Santa in the Park, a community event put on by the Chamber of Commerce, there is a ceremonial tree lighting and Santa even makes a guest appearance, handing out goodies to the children who come to the event. This year the event will be on held December 9, but even if you miss the event, the lights itself are a grand display. If you hit it right, you can see the tree lit up with the church in the background and it's like what you may see on a postcard!
Bilow Dairy Farm
We continue east and take Brainardsville Road heading toward Chateaugay. One of the most interesting lighting shows in the area, the Bilow Farm Christmas display is certainly one of a kind. Almost every year the farm drives their large farm tractors--many of which I didn't even know existed until moving to the area--to the front of their yard where they decorate them wonderfully.
Last year the equipment was all outlined in beautiful hues of reds, greens, and whites, and the bright lights can be seen from a mile away as you head to the display. Their message was clear--"Drink Milk" the lights proclaimed in the front of the tractor bucket!
After passing the Bilow Farm, we head toward the village of Chateaguay where there are many back streets that have beautiful lighting displays. We stop for a hot cocoa warm-up and then head back towards Malone on Route 11.
Titus Mountain
Once in Malone, I take the back way to Titus Mountain, taking a left on River Road and following the river until Whippleville as we head to our final destination. The mountain has the biggest wreath that I have ever seen, handcrafted by one of the local farms in the area. They display the wreath on the outside of their Lower Lodge, illuminated by the many lights of the hill as skiers and riders hit the slopes set against an ideal winter backdrop.
We round out our night by eating at Titus Mountain's Moon Valley Grill and having a hot toddy or Irish coffee.
There are many amazing lighting displays that you will see along the way, from houses with beautiful and traditional wreaths and garlands to the works -- houses with a seemingly infinite amount of blow-up decorations from Santa riding a motorcycle to penguins sliding down the back of a polar bear. Take the route that we do, or create your own. Why not warm up at one of our cozy restaurants and do a little shopping along the way? If you're visiting from afar, plan to stay the night and incorporate a few of our memorable local events into your getaway!
You won't be disappointed.
Our "Light-Seeing" Map
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